Amanda Sibley says, “LinkedIn is a highly valuable tool to network with like-minded professionals. But here’s something we don’t talk about as much as we should — it’s also a highly useful marketing platform. It might seem a little bit intimidating. You have enough on your plate — do you really need to be figuring out yet another way to create targeted content? Actually, yes. You have more power at your disposal with LinkedIn than you might realize. That’s because LinkedIn has a powerful ads platform. If you’re already using pay-per-click (PPC) techniques... [...]

Emma Koehn says, “There are several heavy tomes devoted to the art of mastering LinkedIn, but the platform’s latest facelift could make it easier to show off your expertise to others. LinkedIn is both a networking site and a skills and advice sharing platform, and entrepreneurs and business owners have spent a significant amount of time trying to crack the code for great professional posts that others will actually read there. A new desktop version of the platform, released globally over the coming weeks, aims to streamline the offer and make it easier for audiences to stumble across this... [...]

Pete Prestipino says, “DataSift has announced a partnership with LinkedIn that will provide marketers with insights into the activities and interests of the professional network’s nearly 470 million users. LinkedIn Engagement Insights, powered by DataSift’s PYLON technology, is an analytics offering that offers marketers an in-depth understanding of key audiences, their interests and engagement with content, and how they interact with brands on LinkedIn. With these insights, marketers can inform and optimize advertising planning and measurement, brand building activities, and... [...]

Tamar Weinberg says, “LinkedIn is about to look different. Starting today, LinkedIn’s interface on desktop browsers will sport a brand-new user interface overhaul. The company acknowledged in a blog post that it is the “the largest desktop redesign since LinkedIn’s inception”– and about time. It’s been long enough. Rebuilt from the ground up, the redesign enhances the interface and draws inspiration from other popular networks. A streamlined navigation includes seven core areas: home (your feed), messaging, jobs, notifications, me, my network and search. Other LinkedIn features... [...]

Lindsay Kolowich says, “You might already know that Instagram is a growing channel that lets individuals and businesses alike expand their brand. For businesses especially, it’s a way to humanize your brand, recruit future employees, showcase your product and company culture, delight customers, and generate new business. But here’s the deal: Unless you’re famous, it’s really hard to amass a huge following on Instagram without some hard work. For the average person or business, growing your following takes time and attention on a daily basis. And although you may be... [...]

Matt Mansfield says, “LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD) is the social media site to be on whether you’re selling B2B, raising funds for your startup, or looking for your next job. And, while it may take a bit of time to learn how to use all of LinkedIn and it’s many tools, it’s easy to set up a basic profile so you can start networking with others in your industry. However, as with any social media site, there are some “don’ts” you should be aware of so you can avoid making a bad impression — don’ts like the 10 LinkedIn errors in the video above. Avoid These 10 LinkedIn Errors The errors... [...]

AJ Wilcox says, “While consulting with companies on their LinkedIn advertising initiatives, I routinely get asked, “How should I bid? CPM or CPC?” I very quickly noticed that my response is very different from “conventional wisdom.” When I hear others asked this question, I repeatedly hear, “It depends on your goals.” These misguided souls go on to explain, “If your goal is brand awareness, bid for impressions (CPM). If your goal is direct response, bid for clicks (CPC).” Not only is this a gross oversimplification of a rule of thumb, but I’d argue it’s flat-out wrong. Although... [...]

Emma Brudner says, “Most salespeople are sold on the power of LinkedIn. They keep their profiles in tip-top shape, look up their prospects’ profiles before calling or emailing, and keep close tabs on what potential customers post in groups. Reps also know how to search for prospects and narrow the results down by industry, company, location, and other specifications. In other words, they have the basics of prospecting on LinkedIn down. But what if these strategies aren’t yielding enough relevant prospects? While search is the most logical place to look for new opportunities,... [...]

Emma Brudner says, “If you’re using LinkedIn for sales correctly, you won’t insert an ask into your initial invitation to connect. It’s only after the prospect accepts your personalized connection request and you’ve diligently observed their behavior on the network that you can follow up with a meeting proposal. But just like cold sales emails, there’s a right way and a wrong way to write a LinkedIn message. Whether you’re sending an InMail or a good old-fashioned message, look to the following template as a guide”. The Anatomy of a Great LinkedIn... [...]

Emma Brudner says, “There’s no wrong way to go about researching a prospect in advance of a call. Yes, there are a few efficiencies to be gained, and some networks are more important to check than others, but as long as you’re doing your research, you’re already more than halfway there. The only way a sales rep can truly fail is by going into a call totally cold. Buyers just don’t have the patience to answer basic questions whose answers are readily accessible with the most cursory searching, nor do they have time to fill you in on their challenges. If you pick up the phone without... [...]